Fluid-clutch.



P. WEEKS.

FLUID CLUTCH. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAR go 1911.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

PAUL WEEKS, 015 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FLUID-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Application filed March 20, 1911. Serial No. 615,784.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL WEEKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Fluid-Clutch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to a device for coupling together two rotating elements so that both of said elements rotate in unison, or for coupling the two elements together in such a manner that the driven element may be driven at a less sfpeed than the driving element, the ratio 0 speed between the two elements having a range from the minimum speed of the driven element to the maximum speed of the driving element, and one of the main objects of the present invention is to produce a device of the character described of simple construction which will perform the function of clutching a driven member to a driving member, either to drive the driven element with the same speed as the driving element, or drive the driven element at any desired intermediate speed, varying from minimum speed of the driven element to the maximum speed of the driving element.

Another object of the invention is to produce -a device of the character described wherein the volume of fluid or liquid used is constant.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter from the following specification. 1

Referring to the drawings which embody one form of my invention and are drawn for illustrative purposes only: Figure 1 is an end View of the clutch showing the end plate partially broken away, also parts of the interior mechanism of the clutch broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line w -w Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line".c-"m Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a View show.- ing a modification of the piston construction.

The driving element comprises a driving shaft '1 arranged in alinement with the driven element which consists of shaft 2.

Secured to a flange 3 on the driving element 1- by means of bolts 4 is a casing 5, cylindrical in. cross section. The bolts 4 extend into and engage a' circular flange 6 on a hollow stem which forms an extension on the end wall 8 of the casing 5. The open end of the casing 5 is closed by means of a circular end plate 9 secured to the circular wall .10 of the casing 5 by means of .bolts 11. The driven element or shaft 2 extends through a bushing 12 in the end plate 9 to the interior of the casing 5 and has formed thereon an eccentric 13 extending from the inner face 14 of the plate 9 to the inner face 15 of the end wall 8, which faces form fiat bearings for the ends ofthe eccentric 13. The inner end of the shaft 2 extends into a bushing 16 in the end wall 8 which forms a bearing 01' supporting member for the end of the shaft 2.

Mountedon the eccentric 13 and extending the full length thereof is a square eccentric block 18, having four bearing faces 19, 20, 21 and 22 respectively. Mounted on the eccentric block 18 are two scotch yokes 23 and 24 each of a width equal to half the width of the eccentric 13. The yoke 23 is provided with a rectangular central opening 25 having upper and lower bearing faces 26 and 27 upon which the faces 19 and 20 of the eccentric block 18 are adapted to slide. The yoke 24 is'provided with a central opening 28 having opposite vertical bearing faces 29 and 30 upon which the faces 21 and 22 respectively of the eccentric block 18 are adapted to slide. Formed on the yoke 23 and extending upwardly therefrom is a hollow extension 32 formmg an open'ended cylinder which is adapted to receive a piston 33 fixed to the casing 5. Formed on the yoke 23 directly opposite the extension 32 and inalinement therewith is an extension 34 forming a hollow cylinder which receives a piston 35.

The yoke 24 is provided with hollow extensions 36 and 37 extending from the opposite sides of the yoke 24 in alinernent with each .other, which form cylinders to receive pistons 38 and 39 respectively secured to the casing 5. Leakage from the cylinders 32, 34, 36 and 37 to the interior of the casing 5 is prevented by means of packin 40 held in place on the end of each 'eylin er 32, 34, 36 and 37 respectively by means of suitable nuts 41. Each piston 33, 35, 38 and 39 is formed with an enlarged head threaded to engage threaded tapered openings 42 in the wall 10 of the casing, the end of each piston being provided with a square recess 43 adapted to receive a wrench or other suitable tool for screwing the istons securely in place 111 the casing. 'Eac piston is provided with a longitudinal bore 45 which communicates at its outer end with a longitudinal passage 46 in the wall 10 of the casing. Each passage 16 communicates with a radial passage 47 which extends to a central bore 48 in the .casing 5. Secured in the inner end of the bore 48 is a valve sleeve 49 provided with four V-shaped ports 48 so arranged that each one of the ports 18 is in alinement with one of the passages 47 there by affording communication from the passages 47 through the ports to a chamber 50 formed within the sleeve 49.

Means for controlling the communication from the passages 47 to the interior of the sleeve 4:9 is provided and consists of a plunger 51' adapted to slide in the sleeve 49 over the ports 48'. The plunger 51 is providcd with a stem 52 which extends through a suitable stufling box 53 rearwardly there from where it is engaged by means of a pin 54: which extends through slots 55 in the extension -7 to a collar 56 slidable on the sleeve 7 by any suitable operating means not shown. For the purpose of equalizing the pressure of fluid on each side of the plunger 51, theplunger is provided with a duct or assage 57 extending through the plunger rom the front to the rear thereof.

It is desirable to maintain a supply of oil v placed between the plunger 60 and plug 62 to maintain a pressure on the oil in the reservoir. The reservoir is filled through an opening 64 provided with a suitable cover plate 65, the plunger being raised above the opening 64 by any suitable tool adapted to engage an eye 66 in the outer end of the stem 61 of the plunger. The oil passes fromthe reservoir to the chamber 50 to the passages 17 and 46 which distribute the oil to the cylinders until the cylinders and all passages in communication therewith are filled with oil or other suitable fluid.-

It is'un'derstood that modifications may be madein the construction of the device shown without departing from the spirit of the invention, one of which modifications is shown in Fig. 4 in which the-pistons 71 are secured to the yoke 72 and the cylinder formed as apart of the casing 73. 4

With 'he-employment of two yokes, each yoke having'the cylinders or pistons arranged thereon at, 180 degrees apart and the 7 sleeve to cover and uncover said ports. cylinders or pistons on one yoke 90 degrees A from the cylinders or pistons on the other yoke, the volume of oil in the cylinders and passages communicating therewith is constant.

The interior of the cylinders 32, 34, 36, 37, the passages 46, 17 and the valve chamber 50 are filled with fluid, preferably oil as heretofore described, and when the plunger 51 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the oil is free to circulate in the cylinders, passages'fi, 47 and the valve chamber 50 as in this position the valve ports 48 are open. When the parts are in this position the driving shaft 1 carrying the casing 5 is free to rotate independent of the driven shaft 2 as the cylinders carried on the yokes 23 and 24: are free to reciprocate on the pistons and the yokes 23 and 24' slide on the eccentric 13 which during this operation remains stationary, the block 18 rotating on the eccentric 13. By shifting the collar 56 toward the casing 5 the pin 54 on the collar 56 being in engagement with the stem of the plunger 51 moves the plunger to partially cover the ports 48 which retards the circu lation of the oil from the cylinders through the passages 46, 47 and the valve port's 18 which develops resistance to the free movement of the yokes and cylinders on the pistons, which resistance is compensated for by a movement of the eccentric and the driven shaft imparted to the eccentric by the block the passage ofoil through the ports 48.

When the plunger 51 is moved into the posit-ion where the ports 48 are entirely closed, the oil in the cylinders and passages 46 and 47 is prevented from circulating thereby preventing movement of the cylinders on the pistonsholding the block 18 stationary in the yokes 23 and 24, in which position the block 18, yokes 23 and 24, cas-' mg 5 and the driving shaft rotate as a unit, causing rotation of the eccentric 13 and shaft 2 to rotate at thesame speed as the driving shaft 1.

What I claim is:

1. A driving member, a driven member, a plurality of cylinders on one of said members, connections between said cylinders to form a liquid confining space, pistons in said cylinders, an eccentric on the other member for causing a movement between the pistons and cylinders to cause the liquid to circulate from one cylinder to the other, 'and means for controlling the circulation of said liquid, said means consisting of a valve sleeve having ports therein registering with the connections between said cylinders, and

a plunger longitudinally slidable in said oanasa lurality of cylinders on one of said memers, connections between said cylinders to form a liquid confining space, pistons in said cylinders, an eccentric on the other member for causing a movement between the pistons and cylinders to cause the liquid to circulate from one cylinder to the other, means for controlling the circulation of said liquid, means for replenishing said liquid, said means comprising a reservoir, a piston in said reservoir, a spring between said piston and the end wall of said reservoir, said reservoir having an inlet opening and means for closing said inlet opening.

3. A driving member, a casing secured to said driving member, pistons carried by said casing, a pair of yokes having oppositely disposed bearinfg faces, cylinders on said yokes adapted to receive said pistons, an eccentric block engaging the opposite bearing faces of said yokes, a driven member, an eccentric on said driven member. in said eccentric block, said casing having passages therein communicating with said cylinders and a central chamber in the cas ing to form a liquid confining space, and means in said central chamber for controlling the communication between said passages.

4:- A driving member, -a casing secured to said driving member, hollow pistons extending inwardly from said casing, a pair of yokes having oppositely disposed bearing faces, cylinders carried on said yokes adapted to receive said pistons, an eccentric block engaging the opposite bearing faces of said yokes, a driven member, an eccentric on said driven member in said block, said cas ing having passages therein communicating with the cylinders through said pistons and communicating with a central chamber to form a liquid confining, space, and means in the central chamber for controlling the flow of liquid throughsaid passages.

5. A driving member, a casing secured to said driving member, hollow pistons extending inwardly from said casing, a pair of yokes having oppositely disposed bearing faces, cylinders carried on said yokes adapted to receive said pistons, an eccentric block engaging the opposite bearing faces of said yokes, a driven member, an eccentric on said driven member in said block, said .casing having passages therein communicating with the cylinders through said pistons and communicating with a central chamber to form a liquid confiningspace, and means inthe central chamber for controlling the flow of liquid through said passages, said means consisting. of"a valve sleeve having ports therein registerin with the passages, a plunger slidable in said sleeve over said ports, and means for operating said plunger.

6.' A driving shaft, a hollow casing, a

stem on said casing secured to saidldriving I shaft, hollow pistons on said casing, extending inwardly therefrom, a pair of yokes having oppositely disposed bearing faces, a pair of cylinders on each yoke adapted to receive said pistons, a square eccentric block, the sides of said block engaging the oppositely disposed bearing faces on said yokes, a driven shaft extending into said casing, an eccentric on said driven shaft in said eccentric block, said casing having passages therein communicating with said cylinders through said pistons, and with a central chamber in the casing to form a liquid confining space, a valve sleeve in said central chamber having ports therein registering with said passages in the casing, and a plunger in said valve sleeve slidable 'past said ports.

7. A driving shaft, a hollow casing, a hollow stem on said casing secured to said driving shaft, hollow pistons on said casing extending inwardly therefrom, a pair of yokes having oppositely disposed bearing faces, a pair of cylinders on each yoke adapted to receive said pistons, a square eccentric block, the sides of said block engaging the oppositely disposed bearing faces on said yokes, a driven shaft extending into said casing, an eccentric on said driven shaft in said-eccentric block, said casing having passages therein communicating with said cylinders through said pistons and with a central chamber in the casing to form a liquid confining space, a valve sleeve in'said central chamber having ports therein registering with said passages in the casing, a plunger in said valve sleeve slidable past said ports, a'stem on said plunger extending into the hollow extension on the casing, a pin on said stem extending'through the slots in said casing, and alongitudinally slidable collar on said hollow extension for operating said plunger.

8. A driving shaft, a hollow casing, a hollow stem on said casing secured to said driving shaft, hollow pistons on said casing extending inwardly therefrom, a pair of yokes having oppositely disposed bearing faces, a pair of cylinders on each yoke adapted to receive said pistons, a square eccentric block, the sides of said block engaging the oppositely disposed bearing faces on said yokes, a driven shaft extending into said casing, an eccentric on said driven shaft 1n said eccentric block, said casing having passages therein communicating with said cylinders through said pistons and with a central chamber in the casin to form a liquid confining space, a valve s eeve in said central chamber having ports therein registering with said passages in the casing ain said casing, a longitudinally slidable col- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set lar on said hollow extension for operating my hand at Los Angeles, California, this said plunger, a reservoir in said casing hav- 10th day of March, 1911.

ing a passage communicating with said PAUL WEEKS. central chamber, a piston in said reservoir, In presence of j and a 5 ring between said piston and the FRANK L. A. GRAHAM,

end of t e reservoir. ARTHUR P. KNIGHT. 

